Application of a flavorant particle in a filter of a smoking article for delivering flavor

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing flavorant particles includes melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax; solidifying the molten wax; and grinding the solidified molten wax into a plurality of flavorant particles. Another method of manufacturing flavorant particles includes melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax, the molten wax having a melting temperature between about 50° C. to about 70° C.; and spray-chilling the molten wax into at least one solid flavorant particle, the solid flavorant particle having a diameter of between about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/324,764 filed on Apr. 19, 2016 theentire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure generally relates to smoking articles, such ascigarettes and filters for use with cigarettes as well as to methods ofmanufacturing cigarettes and filters.

SUMMARY

A method is disclosed of manufacturing flavorant particles, the methodcomprising: melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax;solidifying the molten wax; and grinding the solidified molten wax intoflavorant particles.

A method is disclosed of manufacturing a flavorant particle, the methodcomprising: melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax,the molten wax having a melting temperature between about 50° C. toabout 70° C.; and spray-chilling the molten wax into a solid flavorantparticle, the solid flavorant particle having a diameter of betweenabout 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm.

A method is disclosed of forming a filter of a smoking article such as acigarette comprising: inserting at least one of the ground flavorantparticles into a hollow axial space between adjacent absorbent members,the at least one flavorant particle containing a fluid/vapor/solidmaterial for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smokingof the smoking article; and wrapping the at least one flavorant particleand the adjacent absorbent members with an outer cover.

A method is disclosed of forming a cigarette, which includes forming acigarette filter having at least one of the flavorant particles andattaching a cigarette rod to one end of the cigarette filter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a smoking article in the form of a cigaretteaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a filter for a smokingarticle according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter having a matrix of flavorantparticles for a smoking article according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a filter for a smoking article accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a filter for a smoking article accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of manufacturing flavorantparticles in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method of making a filter for a smoking article having a releasablematrix of flavorant particles having at least one additive material,such as a flavor component, in a tobacco product, such as a cigarette,is described hereafter. Improved delivery through controlled release ofthe at least one additive material to smoking articles may be achievedthrough the use of one or more flavorant particles, which are preferablysolidified molten chunks or frangible flavored particles, containing theat least one additive material. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the flavorant particle(s) or frangible flavored particlesare inserted axially into an opening formed between, for example, a pairof cellulose acetate plugs, and/or within a plug of cellulose acetate.The flavorant particle, when exposed to mainstream smoke and/or releasedon demand by mechanical interaction by a smoker, releases the additivematerial.

As shown in FIG. 1, a smoking article 10, for example, a cigarette,contains two sections, a tobacco-containing portion sometimes referredto as the tobacco or cigarette rod 12, and a filter portion or filter14. Tipping paper typically surrounds the filter 14, which forms themouth end of the cigarette. The tipping paper overlaps with the tobaccorod in order to hold the filter and tobacco rod together. The tobaccorod 12, or tobacco containing element of the cigarette, includes thepaper wrapper in which the tobacco is wrapped and the adhesive holdingthe seams of the paper wrapper together. The tobacco rod 12 has a firstend, which is integrally attached to the filter, and a second end, whichis lit or heated for smoking the tobacco. When the tobacco rod 12 is litor heated for smoking, the smoke travels from the lit end downstream tothe filter end of the tobacco rod and further downstream through thefilter.

The filter 14 can be used with traditional cigarettes andnon-traditional cigarettes. Non-traditional cigarettes include, forexample, cigarettes for electrical smoking systems as described incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,026,820; 5,988,176; 5,915,387;5,692,526; 5,692,525; 5,666,976; and 5,499,636, the disclosures of whichare incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a flavored medium, forexample, a flavor bead or matrix of beads and/or flavored chunks 50 canbe placed in a single plug-space-plug configuration (FIGS. 2 and 5) orin a multiple plug-space-plug configuration within the filter (FIG. 1)or evenly distributed in a filter (FIG. 4) of a smoking article 10 thatreleases flavor by being crushed, rubbed, or by mechanical means. Theflavor beads and/or flavored chunks 50 may be designed in a way thatmechanical interaction with the medium releases the flavor. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, based on the interaction withthe flavor beads and/or the flavored chunks 50, the consumer can choosenot to add additional flavor by not interacting with the medium, oralternatively, additional flavor can be added based on the amount ofinteraction with the medium.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavor beads (with orwithout tobacco or tobacco flavor/extract) or flavor chunks 50 can befabricated by using techniques such as spheronization, spray-chilling,and/or extrusion processes. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,the flavor release profile of the flavor beads or chunks 50 can bemodified by using a fluidized bed coating and/or a pan coating toproduce, for example, beads with a core-shell structure or matrixstructure with or without layering. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, depending on the method of manufacturing of the flavoredbeads and/or flavor chunks 50, the beads and/or chunks 50 produced canexhibit various flavor delivery profiles.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each bead 50 can have a core(matrix) and may include one or more layers surrounding the core. Thelayers can include a coating/binder and may include additional flavor,tobacco/tobacco flavor, and any other additive or combination thereof.For example, the matrix and/or core may include a carbohydrate, a watersoluble or insoluble polymer, a flavorant, or a combination thereof. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, the core of the flavored bead50 preferably has a diameter of about 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. In accordancewith an exemplary embodiment, the flavored beads 50 preferably have agenerally round outer diameter.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorant particles orchunks 50 can be prepared by solidifying molten food grade waxcontaining flavor(s) using a spray-chilling process. In accordance withanother exemplary embodiment, the method can include melting a foodgrade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax, solidifying the molten wax,and grinding the solidified molten wax into a plurality of flavorantparticles. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for example, themolten wax can be sprayed chilled into a chamber of cold air, whichhardens or chills the molten wax into solid particles.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for spray-chilled particles,the particles, preferably have a uniform diameter of between about 0.2mm to about 1.0 mm. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the sizeof the flavorant particles 50 can be controlled by one or more of thefollowing: flow rate of molten wax, nozzle size, pressure, and/or acombination thereof. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, forexample, two or more sizes of spray-chilled particles 50 can be combinedin, for example, a tobacco filter, or a moist smokeless tobacco product.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the molten wax can beinjected or sprayed into an air chamber having a temperature of about 0°C. to about 15° C. For example, for use in a cigarette filter, themolten wax preferably has a melting temperature of about 50° C. to about100° C., and more preferably, a melting temperature of about 50° C. toabout 70° C.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the melting temperature ofthe wax is preferably greater than about 50° C. such that duringtransportation and/or storage of, for example, tobacco products, the waxdoes not melt from ambient or surrounding temperatures, and is less thanabout, for example, 70° C., such that, for example, heat from a filterend of tobacco rod can melt the flavorant particles to release theflavorant.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for use with moist smokelesstobacco products, the melting temperature of the molten wax can bebetween, for example, 50° C. to about 50° C., and more preferably, amelting temperature of about 50° C. to about 60° C. such that theflavorant particles 50 can release the flavorant by mechanicalinteraction rather than exposure to heat.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for the method, whichincludes melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax,solidifying the molten wax, and grinding the solidified molten wax intoa plurality of flavorant particles, each of the plurality of flavorantparticles or chunks after grinding of the solidified molten wax can havea diameter (or size) ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm, and moreparticularly a diameter (or size) ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 2.0mm. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the plurality offlavorant particles or chunks 50 preferably has an irregular shape, forexample, not round.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the ground flavorantparticles can be placed through a sieve such that the flavorantparticles have a size ranging from about 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, and moreparticularly placing the flavorant particles through a sieve such thatthe flavorant particles have a size ranging from about 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm.For example, a sieve such as a No. 170 (US) or a 170 Mesh (Tyler) havinga 0.088 mm opening to a No. 10 (US) or a 9 Mesh (Tyler) having a 2.0 mmopening could be used.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the wax can be, for example,beeswax. In addition, waxes such as shellac, paraffin, carnauba,candelilla, and/or polyethylene waxes can be used. In accordance with anexemplary embodiment, two or more different waxes can be combined. Forexample, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the two or morewaxes can be combined to have a melting temperature of between, forexample, about 50° C. to about 70° C. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the wax can be Compritol® 888.

An exemplary embodiment of a method of making smoking articles, such ascigarettes includes providing a cut filler to a cigarette-making machineto form a tobacco portion (for example, a tobacco column), placing apaper wrapper around the tobacco column to form a tobacco rod 12, andattaching a filter 14 to the tobacco rod to form the cigarette 10. Asshown in FIG. 1, the filter 14 can include one or more flavorantparticles or flavor chunks 50, and more preferably a plurality offlavorant particles or flavor chunks 50. Advantageously, for example, aplurality of flavorant particles or flavor chunks 50 can provide moresurface area, for example, than a single bead.

The term “mainstream smoke” includes the mixture of gases and/oraerosols passing down a cigarette 10, such as a tobacco rod 12, andissuing from an end, such as through the filter end, for example, theamount of smoke issuing or drawn from the mouth end of a cigaretteduring smoking of the cigarette 10. The mainstream smoke contains airthat is drawn in through the heated region of the cigarette 10 andthrough the paper wrapper.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filter 14 can include a filter subassembly 16having a first absorbent member 22 and a second absorbent member 24 witha cavity 26 provided between the first and second absorbent members 22,24. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a third absorbent member28, for example, in the form of a quantity of activated carbon can beprovided on a first side of the filter subassembly 16 and a fourthabsorbent member 20 can be provided on a second side of the filtersubassembly 16. The fourth absorbent member 30 may also contain aquantity of activated carbon wherein the sorbent articles aredistributed in the filamentary tow. In exemplary embodiments, absorbentmembers 22, 24, 26, 20 can be filter plugs including cellulose acetateplugs.

“Smoking” of a cigarette 10 is intended to mean the heating, combustingor otherwise causing a release of certain chemicals from tobacco.Generally, smoking of a cigarette involves lighting one end of thecigarette and drawing the smoke downstream through the mouth end of thecigarette, while the tobacco contained therein undergoes combustion,pyrolysis, or distillation of volatiles. However, the cigarette may alsobe smoked by other ways. For example, the cigarette may be smoked byheating the cigarette using an electrical heater, as described, forexample, in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,053,176; 5,934,289;5,591,368 or 5,322,075, each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

Examples of suitable types of tobacco materials that may be usedinclude, but are not limited to, flue-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco,Maryland tobacco, Oriental tobacco, rare tobacco, specialty tobacco,blends thereof, and the like. The tobacco material may be provided inany suitable form, including, but not limited to, tobacco lamina,processed tobacco materials, such as volume expanded or puffed tobacco,processed tobacco stems, such as cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems,reconstituted tobacco materials, blends thereof, and the like. Tobaccosubstitutes may also be used.

In traditional cigarette manufacture, the tobacco is normally used inthe form of cut filler, i.e., in the form of shreds or strands cut intowidths ranging from about 1/10 inch to about 1/20 inch or even about1/40 inch. The lengths of the strands range from between about 0.25 inchto about 3.0 inches. The cigarettes may further comprise one or moreflavors, or other suitable additives (e.g., burn additives, combustionmodifying agents, coloring agents, binders, etc.).

The filter material of the filter 14 may be any of the variety offibrous materials suitable for use in tobacco smoke filter elements.Typical fibrous materials include cellulose acetate, polypropylene, orpaper. Preferably, the absorbent materials (or filter material) 20, 22,24, 26 will be cellulose acetate.

Various cigarette filter constructions may be used, in which one or moreflavorant particles may be incorporated. Exemplary filter structuresthat may be used include, but are not limited to, a mono filter, a dualfilter, a triple filter, a single or multi cavity filter, a recessedfilter, a free-flow filter, combinations thereof, and the like. Monofilters typically contain cellulose acetate tow or cellulose papermaterials. Pure mono cellulose filters or paper filters offer good tarand nicotine retention, and are highly degradable. Dual filterstypically comprise a cellulose acetate mouth end and a pure cellulose orcellulose acetate segment. The length and pressure drop of the segmentsin a dual filter may be adjusted to provide optimal sorption, whilemaintaining acceptable draw resistance. Triple filters may include mouthside and smoking material or tobacco side segments, and a middle segmentcomprising paper. Cavity filters include at least two segments, forexample, acetate-acetate, acetate-paper, or paper-paper, separated by atleast one cavity. Recessed filters include an open cavity on the mouthside. The filters may also be ventilated and/or comprise additionalsorbents, catalysts or other additives suitable for use in the cigarettefilter.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the filter 14 of anexemplary embodiment of a cigarette 10 may be constructed with anupstream sorbent and a downstream flavorant particle. A sorbent, forexample, activated carbon, can be located in a cavity at a distance fromone or more flavorant particles, which can be located in a secondsection or portion of a filter spaced from the sorbent. Such arrangementwould allow for the filtration of the cigarette to be accomplished bythe sorbent, and for the flavor to be disposed within the cigarettewithout the effectiveness of the flavor being affected by absorption oradsorption by the sorbent.

As used herein, the term “sorption” denotes filtration by adsorptionand/or absorption. Sorption is intended to encompass interactions on theouter surface of the sorbent, as well as interactions within the poresand channels of the sorbent. In other words, a “sorbent” is a substancethat may condense or hold molecules of other substances on its surface,and/or take up other substances, for example, through penetration of theother substances into its inner structure, or into its pores. As usedherein, the term “sorbent” refers to an adsorbent, an absorbent, or asubstance that may perform both of these functions. As used herein, theterm “remove” refers to adsorption and/or absorption of at least someportion of a constituent of mainstream tobacco smoke.

While any suitable material may be used as a sorbent, preferredembodiments can include activated carbon sorbents or microporousmaterials. The sorbent may be any material, which has the ability toabsorb and/or adsorb gas constituents on the surface thereof or toassimilate such constituents into the body thereof. If desired, thesorbent can incorporate catalyst material therein. By way of example,sorbent materials may include, but are not limited to, carbons such asactivated carbon, aluminas, silicates, molecular sieves, and zeolitesand may be used alone or in combination. In a preferred embodiment, thesorbent material is activated carbon.

Microporous materials (for example, microporous sorbents) such as, forexample, an activated carbon can be used to filter out gas constituentsfrom cigarette smoke. The microporous sorbent may have pores with widthsor diameters of less than about 20 Å. While microporous materials can beuseful for filtering cigarette smoke, microporous materials may alsohinder a cigarette designer's ability to add volatile flavor componentslike menthol, for example. In particular, microporous sorbents tend toadsorb and/or absorb the flavor components during the time betweencigarette manufacture and use by the consumer, thus reducing theeffectiveness of the flavor components in the cigarette.

In addition to the reduction of the effectiveness of the flavorcomponents due to the adsorption/absorption by the microporous sorbents,two additional problems are also encountered when the flavor componentmigrates to and is adsorbed/absorbed by the sorbent. In accordance withan exemplary embodiment, the flavor component may occupy active sites inthe sorbent; thereby reducing the sorbent's ability to remove targetedgas phase constituents from smoke. In addition, because the flavorcomponent is often strongly adsorbed/absorbed by the sorbent, the flavorcomponent may not be sufficiently releasable. As such, separationbetween the microporous materials and the flavor components, or otheradditives is desired.

The term “additive material” means any material or component, whichmodifies the characteristics of a cigarette when the cigarette issmoked. Any appropriate additive material or combination of materialsmay be contained inside the one or more flavorant particles to modifythe characteristics of the cigarette 10. Such additive materials caninclude flavors, neutralizing agents, and other smoke modifiers, such aschemical reagents like 3-aminopropylsilyl (APS). Additionally, theadditive materials may also include diluents, solvents or processingaids that may or may not impact the sensorial attributes of themainstream smoke but aid in processing of an additive and itsencapsulation and presentation in a cigarette.

In an exemplary embodiment, the additive materials may include one ormore flavors, such as liquid or solid flavors and flavor formulations orflavor-containing materials. The term “flavor” or “tobacco flavor” mayinclude any flavor compound or tobacco extract suitable for beingreleasably disposed in liquid form within one or more flavorantparticles to enhance the taste of mainstream smoke produced, forexample, by a cigarette.

Suitable flavors or flavorings can include, but are not limited to,menthol, mint, such as peppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice,citrus and other fruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethylvanillin, breath freshener flavors, spice flavors such as cinnamon,methyl salicylate, linalool, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil,ginger oil, and tobacco flavor. Other suitable flavors may includeflavor compounds selected from the group consisting of an acid, analcohol, an ester, an aldehyde, a ketone, a pyrazine, combinations orblends thereof and the like.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for example, the flavorantparticles 50 can include about 1% to about 10% flavor or flavoring byweight, and 99% to 90% wax by weight, and more preferably about 2% toabout 5% flavor or flavoring by weight, and 98% to 95% wax by weight.For example, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the molten waxincludes 5% flavor and 95% wax by weight, for example,

In one embodiment, the additive material may serve as a chemical reagentfor one or more components of mainstream smoke. Such an additivematerial may include, by way of example, a chemical additive, whichinteracts with the one or more components in mainstream smoke. Forexample, see commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,209,547 and 6,595,218,which discuss reagents, both of which are expressly incorporated hereinby reference in their entireties.

The flavorant particles in the filter arrangement provide advantagesparticularly for cigarettes containing activated carbon. By placing theflavorant particles in the filter downstream from activated carbon incigarettes containing activated carbon in the filter, adsorption ofreleased additive material by the activated carbon and consequentdeactivation of the carbon is substantially prevented. Thus, where theadditive material is a flavor component, flavor adsorption by theactivated carbon during storage of cigarettes and during smoking issubstantially prevented.

By incorporating the additive material such as solid, vapor, or liquidin one or more flavorant particles in a filter, loss of flavor to sidestream smoke is substantially reduced and less or none of the flavorcomponent is pyrolyzed during the smoking of the cigarette. In addition,by positioning the one or more flavorant particles containing theadditive material in the filter section, the activated carbon canmaintain its ability to modify cigarette smoke, which includes removingvolatile organic components, such as 1,3-butadiene, acrolein andisoprene from mainstream smoke.

The term “releasably disposed” as used herein refers to the containmentand release of additive materials in flavorant particles such that theadditive materials are sufficiently contained to substantially avoid orminimize unwanted migration, such as, for example, during storage. Thisterm also includes, but is not limited to, the additive materials in theflavorant particle being mobile enough to be released from the flavorantparticle when, for example, the flavorant particle is broken or openedby mechanical force. For example, the flavorant particle may be releasedon demand by mechanical interaction by squeezing a portion of acigarette filter containing the flavorant particle, thus releasing theadditive material from within the flavorant particle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a cigarette filter 14according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the filter 14 includes afirst absorbent material 22, a second absorbent material 24, and acavity 26 between the first and second absorbent materials 22, 24. Thefirst absorbent member 22 is generally cylindrical in shape and definesa first end surface 34. The first end surface 34 of the first absorbentmember 22 forms a first end 38 for the cigarette filter 14. The secondabsorbent member 24 is also generally cylindrical in shape and defines asecond end surface 36. The second end surface 36 of the second absorbentmember 24 forms a second end 40 of the cigarette filter 14. The firstand second absorbent members 22, 24 are enclosed about their outersurface by a cover 30 in the form of a suitable conventional plug wrap.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorant particles orchunks 50 can be provided between the first absorbent member 22 and thesecond absorbent member 24. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,the flavorant particles or chunks 50 preferably contain a releasableadditive, which can be a solid or fluid material, such as a liquid orvapor, for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking ofthe cigarette 10. The flavorant particles or chunks 50 release at leasta portion of the additive material when the flavorant particles orchunks 50 are subjected to a mechanical force, such as by squeezing bythe smoker. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorantparticles or chunks 50 preferably have an irregular shape.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the first and secondabsorbent members 22, 24 are comprised of cellulose acetate. In apreferred embodiment, the flavorant particles or chunks 50 comprise aplurality of flavorant particles or chunks 50 provided between the firstand second absorbent members 22, 24.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorant particles orchunks 50 may be formed in a variety of physical formations includingsingular part or multipart flavorant particles or chunks 50. Theflavorant particles 50 may be present in the filter section of acigarette in a dispersed arrangement if small flavorant particles areprovided, or may be present in one or more cavities 26, 27 within thefilter 14.

When the additive material of the flavorant particles or chunks 50 ofthe cigarette 10 is released on demand by mechanical interaction, theadditive material is released from the flavorant particle. Mainstreamsmoke can flow from the tobacco rod 12 through the second absorbentmember 24 and then through the first absorbent member 22. Dilution airmay flow through the steam-set cellulose acetate annular layer or overwrap. The two flows can be adjusted by adjusting the cellulose acetatefiltration efficiency, through the use of dilution holes, etc. Theflavorant particle can be suitable for use with cigarettes that includean activated carbon in the filter 14. The flavorant particles or chunks50 may contain flavor components and may also contain components thatfacilitate selective filtration of the mainstream smoke and which arealso released prior to smoking of the cigarette 10.

The first and second absorbent members 22, 24 can be adjusted in size,density and composition to achieve different levels of dilution,resistance to flow and delivery.

In order to release the contained additive material from the flavorantparticles or chunks 50, an external force, such as a mechanical action,can be applied. One preferable method of applying the external forcewould be to have a user squeeze or exert an external force on a filtercontaining the flavorant particle prior to or during the smoking of thecigarette. The squeezing action or application of external forcepreferably would break the flavorant particle 50 or at least partiallydeform a primary reservoir, which in turn would cause a displacement ofmechanically locked or sealed in place internal components of theflavorant particle. This displacement would then create one or more openspaces between internal components through which at least a portion ofthe additive material may be released from the flavorant particle 50,for example, liquid and/or vapor can be released from the flavorantparticle 50 to modify the tobacco smoke passing through the filter. Theacting force can be in a direction along or across the cigarette axis.Torsion may also be applied. An external device, such as a pinchingdevice, a tube squeezing device, tweezers or any other device forapplying torsion or compression forces, may also be used to concentratethe force at a prescribed filter location repeatedly.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorant particles 50as disclosed herein can be combined with an orally-enjoyed plantmaterial, for example, a moist smokeless tobacco, such as snuff and/orsnus. For example, some users of moist smokeless tobacco products suchas snuff and/or snus products may notice certain negative flavorcharacteristics associated with bitterness, astringency, acridness,flavor harshness, and/or aftertaste. Thus, flavorant particles or chunks50 as disclosed herein can be placed in a moist smokeless tobacco orsnus product and by mechanical interaction, the flavorants can bereleased.

A preferred smoking article 10, in the form of a cigarette would includea tobacco rod 12 integrally attached to a filter 14, where the filter 14would include at least one flavorant particles or chunks 50 containingan additive material for modifying the characteristics of the cigarettesmoke.

Preferably, the filter 14 is arranged with the one or more flavorantparticles 50 placed downstream from, for example, a sorbent materialwith a filter material, for example, a plug of cellulose acetate 22, 24between the one or more flavorant particles 50 and the sorbent materialor at the mouth end of the filter with one or more flavorant particles50 placed between the mouth end of the filter or between the filter andthe mouth end of the filter.

The flavorant particles or chunks 50 may be of any size suitable for usein a smoking article, such as a cigarette, or for a moist smokelesstobacco product, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm, 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, 0.1 mmto 2.0 mm, and 0.1 mm to more than 2.0 mm. For traditional cigarettes,each of the plurality of flavorant particles 50 preferably has adiameter, for example, of about 0.1 mm to 2.0 mm, and more preferably,for example, about 0.2 mm to 2.0 mm.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the flavorant particles orchunks 50 may contain flavor cores, which may be hydrophobic such asmint oil, menthol or other additives as mentioned above.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filter 14 having a matrix of flavorantparticles 50 for a smoking article 10 according to an embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 3, the filter includes a first absorbent material 22having a plurality of flavorant particles or chunks 50 embedded in thefirst absorbent material 22.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a filter 14 for a smoking article 10according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the filter 14 includes afirst absorbent material 22, a second absorbent material 24, a thirdabsorbent material 23, and a cavity (first cavity) 26 between the firstand second absorbent materials 22, 24, and second cavity 27 between thesecond and third absorbent materials 24, 23. The third absorbent member23 is between the first cavity 26 and the second cavity 27. The first,second, and third absorbent members 22, 24, 23, and the first and secondcavities 26, 27 can be enclosed about their outer surface by a cover 30in the form of a suitable conventional plug wrap.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the first and secondcavities 26, 27, can be at least partially filled with one or moreflavorant particles 50. The flavorant particles or chunks 50 in thefirst and second cavities 26, 27 can be the same and/or a differentflavorant, can be the same or a different size of flavorant particles,and/or can be a combination thereof.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the flavorantparticles (or chunks) 50 contains a releasable additive, which can be asolid or fluid material, such as a liquid or vapor, for modifyingcharacteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking of the cigarette 10. Theflavorant particles or chunks 50 release at least a portion of theadditive material when the flavorant particles or chunks 50 aresubjected to a mechanical force, such as by squeezing by the smoker.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a filter 14 for a smoking article 10according to an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the filter 14includes a first absorbent material 22, a second absorbent material 24,and a cavity 26 between the first and second absorbent materials 22, 24.In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 26 is filled witha plurality of flavorant particles (or chunks) 50.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a method of manufacturing flavorantparticles in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG.6, the melt includes melting a food grade wax 100 and a flavorant 110into a molten wax 120. The molten wax 120 is then solidified and groundinto flavorant particles 50. Alternatively, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment, the molten wax 120 can be spray-chilled into solidflavorant particles 50.

While this disclosure has been described in detail with reference tospecific embodiments, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modification may be made, and equivalents thereofemployed, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing flavorant particles,the method comprising: melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into amolten wax; solidifying the molten wax; and grinding the solidifiedmolten wax into flavorant particles.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the molten wax has a melting temperature of about 50° C. toabout 70° C.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the food-gradewax is one or more of the following: beeswax, paraffin, carnauba,candelilla, and polyethylene waxes.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the flavorant is one or more of the following: menthol, mint,such as peppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and otherfruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breathfreshener flavors, spice flavors such as cinnamon, methyl salicylate,linalool, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, ginger oil, and tobaccoflavor.
 5. The method according to claim 1, comprising passing theflavorant particles through a sieve and collecting the flavorantparticles having a size ranging from about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm. 6.The method according to claim 5, comprising passing the flavorantparticles through a sieve and collecting the flavorant particles havinga size ranging from about 0.2 mm to about 2.0 mm.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein each of the flavorant particles comprisesabout 1% to about 5% flavorant by weight and about 95% to about 99% waxby weight.
 8. A method of forming a filter of a cigarette comprising:inserting at least one of the ground flavorant particles formed by themethod according to claim 1 into a hollow axial space between adjacentabsorbent members, the at least one flavorant particle containing afluid/vapor/solid material for modifying characteristics of tobaccosmoke during smoking of the cigarette; and wrapping the at least oneflavorant particle and the adjacent absorbent members with an outercover.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the adjacentabsorbent members are cylindrical.
 10. The method according to claim 8,wherein the absorbent members are comprised of cellulose acetate.
 11. Amethod of forming a cigarette comprising forming the cigarette filteraccording to claim 8, and attaching a cigarette rod to one end of thecigarette filter.
 12. The method according to claim 1, comprising:combining the flavorant particles with a moist smokeless tobaccoproduct.
 13. A method of manufacturing a flavorant particle, the methodcomprising: melting a food grade wax and a flavorant into a molten wax,the molten wax having a melting temperature between about 50° C. toabout 70° C.; and spray-chilling the molten wax into at least one solidflavorant particle, the solid flavorant particle having a diameter ofbetween about 0.1 mm to about 2.0 mm.
 14. The method according to claim13, wherein the step of spray-chilling the molten wax into the solidflavorant particle comprises: injecting the molten wax into an airchamber having a temperature of about 0° C. to about 15° C.
 15. Themethod according to claim 13, wherein the food-grade wax is one or moreof the following: beeswax, paraffin, carnauba, candelilla, andpolyethylene waxes.
 16. The method according to claim 13, wherein theflavorant is one or more of the following: menthol, mint, such aspeppermint and spearmint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and other fruitflavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breath freshenerflavors, spice flavors such as cinnamon, methyl salicylate, linalool,bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, ginger oil, and tobacco flavor.17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the flavorant particlecomprises about 1% to about 5% flavorant by weight and about 95% toabout 99% wax by weight.
 18. A method of forming a filter of a cigarettecomprising: inserting the at least one ground flavorant particle formedby the method according to claim 13 into a hollow axial space betweenadjacent absorbent members, the at least one flavorant particlecontaining a fluid/vapor/solid material for modifying characteristics oftobacco smoke during smoking of the cigarette; and wrapping the at leastone flavorant particle and the adjacent absorbent members with an outercover.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the adjacentabsorbent members are cylindrical.
 20. The method according to claim 18,wherein the absorbent members are comprised of cellulose acetate.
 21. Amethod of forming a cigarette comprising forming the cigarette filteraccording to claim 18, and attaching a cigarette rod to one end of thecigarette filter.
 22. The method according to claim 13, wherein aplurality of flavorant particles are formed, the method furthercomprising: combining the flavorant particles with a moist smokelesstobacco product.